Barcelona 'Fear Tuberculosis Outbreak' as Case Confirmed Before Match

Barcelona have been hit by a potential tuberculosis outbreak ahead of their Champions League clash against Club Brugge.

Barca resume their Champions League campaign on Wednesday, having beaten Olympiacos in their last European outing.

The Catalan giants face Belgian outfit Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium as they aim to secure their third win of the league phase.

But things back at home have taken a turn for the worse as a public health investigation has been launched at the Camp Nou after a worker was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Local outlet El Pais reported that the Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB) is investigating a potential outbreak.

The investigation comes after an employee working on the renovation of the stadium experienced symptoms consistent with tuberculosis.

The worker underwent medical tests which confirmed the illness.

The Camp Nou has been under construction since 2023. Image: Getty

The ASPB has completed contact tracing on the employee with 23 people having been tested, according to the report.

Three workers are reportedly awaiting test results to confirm whether they have the illness.

The ASPB will only confirm an outbreak if two related cases of the illness are confirmed.

It comes just days before the club plan to hold an opening training session at the Nou Camp in preparation for their return to the stadium, which has increased to 105,000 seats.

The session will help serve as a technical and operational test to ensure the stadium is fit for purpose.

Barcelona have been playing their home games at the Olympic Stadium since the redevelopment of the Camp Nou. Image: Getty

Work at the Camp Nou began in 2023 and set out at expanding the ground while adding new corporate facilities and a roof.

The redevelopment of the iconic venue has cost around £1 billion.

The defending La Liga champions have yet to confirm when they will reopen the Camp Nou, but reports suggest it could host their league match against Athletic Bilbao on November 22.

What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body, including the glands, bones and nervous system.

It is transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can be cured with antibiotics.

Symptoms develop gradually and include a persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unintentional weight loss.